The Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) has announced that the distribution of Blank Media Levy royalties will commence on July 20, 2026, bringing financial relief to thousands of creative practitioners across the country.
In a public notice issued on Monday, COSOMA said its Secretariat is finalising administrative and verification processes to ensure the royalty distribution is conducted as scheduled.
The exercise covers royalties collected through the Blank Media Levy, which is imposed on blank media and storage devices such as flash drives, CDs, DVDs and other media used to reproduce copyrighted works.
According to the Society, a comprehensive distribution report will be released to members before disbursements begin. The report will provide distribution statistics and category-specific allocations to ensure transparency and give members a clear understanding of how the funds have been shared.
COSOMA said the Blank Media Levy is one of the key mechanisms for compensating authors, composers, publishers, musicians, filmmakers, visual artists and other rights holders whose works are reproduced for private use. The levy enables creators to earn royalties even when their works are copied outside commercial sales channels.
The Society has appealed to members to remain patient as the remaining administrative procedures are completed, stressing that the verification process is essential to guaranteeing accuracy, accountability and fairness in the distribution exercise.
“The Secretariat kindly requests all members to refrain from placing undue pressure on staff as the remaining administrative and verification processes are completed,” reads part of the statement.
COSOMA also thanked its members for their continued cooperation, understanding and support, reaffirming its commitment to promoting and protecting creativity in Malawi.
The Society advised that all correspondence regarding the distribution should be directed to the Executive Director and encouraged members to look out for the distribution report ahead of the July 20 disbursement.
Under its mandate, COSOMA licenses users of copyrighted works, collects royalties on behalf of rights holders and distributes the proceeds to authors, composers, publishers and other creators. The Blank Media Levy plays a crucial role in ensuring creators receive compensation for private copying of their works, helping sustain Malawi’s creative industry.
